oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第47章

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history；　and　was　often　compelled　to　stop；　by　pain　and　want　of　
strength。　It　was　a　solemn　thing　to　hear；　in　the　darkened　room；　the　
feeble　voice　of　the　sick　child　recounting　a　weary　catalogue　of　evils　
and　calamities　which　hard　men　had　brought　upon　him。　Oh！　if　
when　we　oppress　and　grind　our　fellow…creatures；　we　bestowed　but　
one　thought　on　the　dark　evidences　of　human　error；　which；　like　
dense　and　heavy　clouds；　are　rising；　slowly　it　is　true；　but　not　less　
surely；　to　Heaven；　to　pour　their　after…vengeance　on　our　heads；　if　
we　heard　but　one　instant；　in　imagination；　the　deep　testimony　of　
dead　men’s　voices；　which　no　power　can　stifle；　and　no　pride　shut　
out；　where　would　be　the　injury　and　injustice；　the　suffering　misery；　
cruelty；　and　wrong；　that　each　day’s　life　brings　with　it！　

Oliver’s　pillow　was　smoothed　by　gentle　hands　that　night；　and　
loveliness　and　virtue　watched　him　as　he　slept。　He　felt　calm　and　
happy；　and　could　have　died　without　a　murmur。　

The　momentous　interview　was　no　sooner　concluded；　and　Oliver　
composed　to　rest　again；　than　the　doctor；　after　wiping　his　eyes；　and　

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condemning　them　for　being　weak　all　at　once；　betook　himself　
downstairs　to　open　upon　Mr。　Giles。　And　finding　nobody　about　the　
parlours；　it　occurred　to　him；　that　he　could　perhaps　originate　the　
proceedings　with　better　effect　in　the　kitchen；　so　into　the　kitchen　
he　went。　

There　were　assembled；　in　that　lower　house　of　the　domestic　
parliament；　the　women…servants；　Mr。　Brittles；　Mr。　Giles；　the　tinker　
（who　had　received　a　special　invitation　to　regale　himself　for　the　
remainder　of　the　day；　in　consideration　of　his　services）；　and　the　
constable。　The　latter　gentleman　had　a　large　staff；　a　large　head；　
large　features；　and　large　half…boots；　and　he　looked　as　if　he　had　
been　taking　a　proportionate　allowance　of　ale—as　indeed　he　had。　

The　adventures　of　the　previous　night　were　still　under　
discussion；　for　Mr。　Giles　was　expatiating　upon　his　presence　of　
mind；　when　the　doctor　entered；　Mr。　Brittles；　with　a　mug　of　ale　in　
his　hand；　was　corroborating　everything；　before　his　superior　said　it。　

“Sit　still！”　said　the　doctor；　waving　his　hand。　

“Thank　you；　sir；”　said　Mr。　Giles。　“Missis　wished　some　ale　to　be　
given　out；　sir；　and　as　I　felt　no　ways　inclined　for　my　own　little　room；　
sir；　and　was　disposed　for　company；　I　am　taking　mine　among　’em　
here。”　

Brittles　headed　a　low　murmur；　by　which　the　ladies　and　
gentlemen　generally　were　understood　to　express　the　gratification　
they　derived　from　Mr。　Giles’s　condescension。　Mr。　Giles　looked　
round　with　a　patronising　air；　as　much　as　to　say　that　so　long　as　they　
behaved　properly；　he　would　never　desert　them。　

“How　is　the　patient　tonight；　sir？”　asked　Giles。　

“So…so；”　returned　the　doctor。　“I　am　afraid　you　have　got　yourself　
into　a　scrape　there；　Mr。　Giles。”　

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“I　hope　you　don’t　mean　to　say；　sir；”　said　Mr。　Giles；　trembling；　
“that　he’s　going　to　die。　If　I　thought　it；　I　should　never　be　happy　
again。　I　wouldn’t　cut　a　boy　off—no；　not　even　Brittles　here—not　for　
all　the　plate　in　the　county；　sir。”　

“That’s　not　the　point；”　said　the　doctor　mysteriously。　“Mr。　Giles；　
are　you　a　Protestant？”　

“Yes；　sir；　I　hope　so；”　faltered　Mr。　Giles；　who　had　turned　very　
pale。　

“And　what　are　you；　boy？”　said　the　doctor；　turning　sharply　upon　
Brittles。　

“Lord　bless　me；　sir！”　replied　Brittles；　starting　violently；　“I’m—　
the　same　as　Mr。　Giles；　sir。”　

“Then　tell　me　this；”　said　the　doctor；　“both　of　you—both　of　you！　
Are　you　going　to　take　upon　yourselves　to　swear　that　that　boy　
upstairs　is　the　boy　that　was　put　through　the　little　window　last　
night？　Out　with　it！　Come！　We　are　prepared　for　you！”　

The　doctor；　who　was　universally　considered　one　of　the　best…
tempered　creatures　on　earth；　made　this　demand　in　such　a　
dreadful　tone　of　anger；　that　Giles　and　Brittles；　who　were　
considerably　muddled　by　ale　and　excitement；　stared　at　each　other　
in　a　state　of　stupefaction。　

“Pay　attention　to　the　reply；　constable；　will　you？”　said　the　
doctor；　shaking　his　forefinger　with　great　solemnity　of　manner；　and　
tapping　the　bridge　of　his　nose　with　it；　to　bespeak　the　exercise　of　
that　worthy’s　utmost　acuteness。　“Something　may　come　of　this　
before　long。”　

The　constable　looked　as　wise　as　he　could；　and　took　up　his　staff　
of　office；　which　had　been　reclining　indolently　in　the　chimney…
corner。　

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“It’s　a　simple　question　of　identity；　you　will　observe；”　said　the　
doctor。　

“That’s　what　it　is；　sir；”　replied　the　constable；　coughing　with　a　
great　violence；　for　he　had　finished　his　ale　in　a　hurry；　and　some　of　it　
had　gone　the　wrong　way。　

“Here’s　a　house　broken　into；”　said　the　doctor；　“and　a　couple　of　
men　catch　one　moment’s　glimpse　of　a　boy；　in　the　midst　of　
gunpowder…smoke；　and　in　all　the　distraction　of　alarm　and　
darkness。　Here’s　a　boy　comes　to　that　very　same　house；　next　
morning；　and　because　he　happens　to　have　his　arm　tied　up；　these　
men　lay　violent　hands　upon　him—by　doing　which；　they　place　his　
life　in　great　danger—and　swear　he　is　the　thief。　Now；　the　question　
is；　whether　these　men　are　justified　by　the　fact；　if　not；　in　what　
situation　do　they　place　themselves？”　

The　constable　nodded　profoundly。　He　said；　if　that　wasn’t　law；　
he　would　be　glad　to　know　what　was。　

“I　ask　you　again；”　thundered　the　doctor；　“are　you；　on　your　
solemn　oaths；　able　to　identify　that　boy？”　

Brittles　looked　doubtfully　at　Mr。　Giles；　Mr。　Giles　looked　
doubtfully　at　Brittles；　the　constable　put　his　hand　behind　his　ear；　to　
catch　the　reply；　the　two　women　and　the　tinker　leaned　forward　to　
listen；　the　doctor　glanced　keenly　around；　when　a　ring　was　heard　at　
the　gate；　and　at　the　same　moment；　the　sound　of　wheels。　

“It’s　the　runners！”　cried　Brittles；　to　all　appearance　much　
relieved。　

“The　what？”　exclaimed　the　doctor；　aghast　in　his　turn。　

“The　Bow　Street　officers；　sir；”　replied　Brittles；　taking　up　a　
candle；　“me　and　Mr。　Giles　sent　for　’em　this　morning。”　

“What？”　cried　the　doctor。　

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“Yes；”　replied　Brittles；　“I　sent　a　message　up　by　the　coachman；　
and　I　only　wonder　they　weren’t　here　before；　sir。”　

“You　did；　did　you？　Then　confound　your　slow　coaches　down　
here；　that’s　all；”　said　the　doctor；　walking　away。　

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Chapter　31　

Involves　A　Critical　Position。　

“W　ho’s　that？”　inquired　Brittles；　opening　the　door　a　
little　way；　with　the　chain　up；　and　peeping　out；　
shading　the　candle　with　his　hand。　

“Open　the　door；”　replied　a　man　outside；　“it’s　the　officers　from　
Bow　Street；　as　was　sent　to；　today。”　

Much　comforted　by　this　assurance；　Brittles　opened　the　door　to　
its　full　width；　and　confronted　a　portly　man　in　a　greatcoat；　who　
walked　in；　without　saying　anything　more；　and　wiped　his　shoes　on　
the　mat；　as　coolly　as　if　he　lived　there。　

“Just　send　somebody　out　to　relieve　my　mate；　will　you；　young　
man？”　said　the　officer；　“he’s　in　the　gig；　a…minding　the　prad。　Have　
you　got　a　coach　’us　here；　that　you　could　put　it　up　in；　for　five　or　ten　
minutes？”　

Brittles　replying　in　the　affirmative；　and　pointing　out　the　
building；　the　portly　man　stepped　back　to　the　garden　gate；　and　
helped　his　companion　to　put　up　the　gig；　while　Brittles　lighted　
them；　in　a　state　of　great　admiration。　This　done；　they　returned　to　
the　house；　and；　being　shown　into　a　parlour；　took　off　their　
greatcoats　and　hats；　and　showed　like　what　they　were。　

The　man　who　had　knocked　at　the　door　was　a　stout　personage　of　
middle　height；　aged　about　fifty；　with　shiny　black　hair；　cropped　
pretty　close；　half…whiskers；　a　round　face；　and　sharp　eyes。　The　
other　was　a　red…headed；　bony　man；　in　top…boots；　with　a　rather　ill…
favoured　countenance；　and　a　turned…up　sinister…looking　nose。　

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“Tell　your　governor　that　Blathers　and　Duff　is　here；　will　you？”　
said　the　stouter　man；　smoothing　down　his　hair；　and　laying　a　pair　of　
handcuffs　on　the　table。　“Oh！　Good…evening；　master。　Can　I　have　a　
word　or　two　with　you　in　private；　if　you　please？”　

This　was　addressed　to　Mr。　Losberne；　who　now　made　his　
appearance；　that　gentleman；　motioning　Brittles　to　retire；　brought　
in　the　two　ladies；　and　shut　the　door。　

“This　is　the　lady　of　the　house；”　said　Mr。　Losberne；　motioning　
towards　Mrs。　Maylie。　

Mr。　Blathers　made　a　bow。　Being　desired　to　sit　down；　he　put　his　
hat　on　the　floor；　and　taking　a　chair；　motioned　Duff　to　do　the　same。　
The　latter　gentleman；　who　did　not　appear　quite　so　much　
accustomed　to　good　society；　or　quite　so　much　at　his　ease　in　it—one　
of　the　two—seated　himself；　after　undergoing　several　muscular　
affections　of　the　limbs；　and　forced　the　head　of　his　stick　into　his　
mouth；　with　some　embarrassment。　

“Now；　with　regard　to　this　here　robbery；　master；”　said　Blathers。　
“What　are　the　circumstances？”　

Mr。　Losberne；　who　appeared　desirous　of　gaining　time；　
recounted　them　at　great　length；　and　with　much　circumlocution。　
Messrs。　Blathers　and　Duff　looked　very　knowing　meanwhile；　and　
occasionally　exchanged　a　nod。　

“I　can’t　say；　for　certain；　till　I　see　the　work；　of　course；”　said　
Blathers；　“but　my　opinion　at　once　is—I　don’t　mind　committing　
myself　to　that　extent—that　this　wasn’t　done　by　a　yokel；　eh；　Duff？”　

“Certainly　not；”　replied　Duff。　

“And；　translating　the　word　yokel　for　the　benefit　of　the　ladies；　I　
apprehend　your　meaning　to　be；　that　this　attempt　was　not　made　by　
a　countryman？”　said　Mr。　Losberne；　with　a　smile。　

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“That’s　it；　master；”　replied　Blathers。　“This　is　all　about　the　
robbery；　is　it？”　

“All；”　replied　the　doctor。　

“Now；　what　is　this；　about　this　here　boy　that　the　servants　are　a…
talking　on？”　said　Blathers。　

“Nothing　at　all；”　replied　the　doctor。　“One　of　the　frightened　
servants　chose　to　take　it　into　his　head；　that　he　had　something　to　do　
with　this　attempt　to　break　into　the　house；　but　it’s　nonsense—sheer　
absurdity。”　

“Very　easy　disposed　of；　if　it　is；”　remarked　Duff。　

“What　he　says　is　quite　correct；”　observed　Blathers；　nodding　his　
head　in　a　confirmatory　way；　and　playing　carelessly　with　the　
handcuffs；　as　if　they　were　a　pair　of　castanets。　“Who　is　the　boy？　
What　account　does　he　give　of　himself？　Where　did　he　come　from？　
He　didn’t　drop　out　of　the　clouds；　did　he；　master？”　

“Of　course　not；”　replied　the　doctor；　with　a　nervous　glance　at　the　
two　ladies。　“I　know　his　whole　history；　but　we　can　talk　about　that　
presently。　You　would　like；　first；　to　see　the　place　where　the　thieves　
made　their　attempt；　I　suppose！”　

“Certainly；”　rejoined　Mr。　Blathers。　“We　had　better　inspect　the　
premises　first；　and　examine　the　servants　afterwards。　That’s　the　
usual　way　of　doing　business。”　

Lights　were　then　procured；　and　Messrs。　Blathers　and　Duff；　
attended　by　the　native　constable；　Brittles；　Giles；　and　everybody　
else　in　short；　went　into　the　little　room　at　the　end　of　the　passa